You Promised Me Page 8

  "What did you say, Ginny? Speak up, you know I am hard on hearing," again, his words are slowly spoken. He is not hard on hearing, he is testing me. Not in a bad way.

  I don't answer for a few moments, not long enough to stretch the silence to uncomfortable but enough for me to think carefully about my words.

  "He is here," my voice rings louder as I finally figure out that I just have to accept that Hunter is here, that he is in my life again for some reason. Now I just have to figure out what that reason is, if it is indeed fate.

  "Well this just got interesting didn't it, my sweetie," he laughs into the phone, "Do I need to come down and whoop his ass?" I hear the good humor in his voice return, his booming voice clear, telling me that he has my back.

  "Nope. Sure makes it interesting though. I just need to figure out what it means. But still isn't that strange, Hunter here at St Joseph's," my eyes follow the people walking in the afternoon as we speak.

  "I think there could be a story there Ginny. How about you promise me to keep an open mind on how fate works and I'll promise to keep your mother away from your business until you return. Gin, you got this okay, whatever life throws at you I want you to know that you are my girl, you are the strongest person I know. Now go be an awkward teenager, get drunk, make a bad decision or two, fall in and out of love. Don’t mess with other people's feelings and always be honest. One thing I am adamant about though Ginny, is never play with fate. Do us proud love,” he finishes softly.

  I sit back on the chair as I rub away the loneliness from my face, “Always. I miss you so much, Grandpa. I am used to seeing you every day, it’s just weird. I’ll call you in a couple of days. Give everyone my love,” I finish and we both blow a kiss before hanging up the phone.

  I snuggle down in my chair for a few minutes and stare out the window, thinking about my Grandpa. He really is my rock. Returning back to the Bellafonte fortune as a tweeny was difficult, particularly as I was mourning my Dad and losing my best friend Hunter. Grandpa is the only one patient enough to coax me out of the little black clouds that used to follow me around. He was the one who was okay with me not talking, until I was ready, and then he was the one to push me to be the person I am today. I mean mum, Grandma and Addy are always there for me but I just had a deeper, stronger relationship with Grandpa. Maybe it was because Dad died and Hunter left, perhaps it was the male connection thing, regardless he was the first person that I turned to for pretty much anything and everything. I even told him about my failed kissing experiment with Jackson.

  Eventually, I stop my daydreaming, dragging myself out of my comfy chair to walk over to my desk, looking unenthusiastically, at the work I have scheduled for today. Before I sit though, I grab a tea. Once I do settle and focus on the work in front of me, the time ends up flying past in the blink of an eye. Eager to not mess with my study mojo, I take a break to make some noodles in my room and plow through the pile and send a quick text to our group chat letting everyone know that I am snowed under. I quickly get a series of thumbs up from everyone, except Dom.

  During the afternoon, I deliberately ignore the emails that keep hitting my inbox. Looking over them now I am happy I did, my inbox full again with expected reading from today's classes, a couple of papers from Bellafonte's that need my input, and also a schedule of suggested timings from Hunter. Of course, he doesn't provide any greeting, just a timetable.

  Opening the attachment I notice that he has scheduled a two-hour study block, every evening for the next few weeks. At least he has given me the party night off. I accept the study schedule, which will update my diary although I change the location to the library instead of my suite. Things got too heated last time we were alone, maybe the librarian's beady gaze and the rows of books will dilute his intensity. I doubt it.

  My empty bowl sits on the edge of my desk long forgotten when I finally stop my study session. Looking at the neat piles of organized work I am pretty stoked with my effort. I made good headway on all my assignments, essays and research notes. The decision to stay hidden in my room, focussed rather than getting distracted by Dom's pretty eyes and Hunter, pays off. Pretty sure I can’t hide in my room forever though.

  Eventually, the words start to blur as the sentences of Corporate Law run into each other, that is my cue to stop for the night. I treat myself to a quick shower to wash my hair, before I soak in the bubble bath under a sea of bubbles and a face mask. Before jumping into bed, my brain pretty much still buzzes from the information overload, I blow-dry and straighten my long blonde hair, pluck a few errant eyebrows and leave the bathroom, pretty happy with myself.

  I fall asleep watching Netflix and eating a bag of my favourite candy snakes.

  "This would look fabulous on you, Lizzie," I offer, holding up the electric blue pants suit that I find.

  "Hell yes! It will so make your eyes pop. Hunter is going to love it," Betsy replies, grabbing it from my hand and pushing it up so that she can hold it in front of Lizzies lithe form.

  Lizzie smirks, "Why ladies, I think you could be right!" stealing it from both of us and moving quickly into the change room.

  I walk around the pretty boutique as I wait for Lizzie to change. Don't get me wrong, it is full of lovely stuff, just not the lovely stuff I like. Besides, I already know what I am going to wear.

  Once changed, Lizzie flings the change room curtain open and struts dramatically around the store, showing us her catwalk prowess along her well-versed poses. We stand there applauding and laughing her on. Of course, she is well experienced, being a popular catwalk and photographic model for a few of the more traditional brands. Her face has graced a few billboards and fashion spreads.

  She turns and shakes her ass at us, "Does my butt look too big in this?" she smirks, she knows it doesn't. She is drop-dead gorgeous.

  It takes only a few minutes for her to change back and charge it to her Amex. We stand around chatting whilst waiting for the clerk to wrap her goods.

  "So Gin, did you accept Dom's invite?" Karen asks as she slides her arm up over my shoulder, I look at her from the corner of my eye, her mirth sparkling in her eyes. She knows that I didn't.

  "He asked again, didn't he?" Lizzie asks as she grabs the bag and we move further down the mall.

  "I need food first, then we can talk about guys," I suggest and we all shuffle eagerly to grab a muffin and coffee.

  We are just about to start our boy chat when my mobile rings, unsurprisingly it is Dom. I hold the phone up for the girls to see, then excuse myself as I take his call out in the mall.

  "Ginny, you look gorgeous today," his deep voice laughs down the phone.

  "Dom, now why would you be calling me today? Do you need my notes from Chemistry? Or did you need me to pick you something up from Trader Joe’s?" I respond good-naturedly. That's the thing about Dom, he is so damn easy to be around and he makes me smile.

  "You evil woman, you wound me! Gin, it is time for my daily, beg-Gin-to-be-my-date call, so how 'bout it pretty girl," he asks softly, his question so full of hope.

  "Dom...," I say looking back at the girls who are all lost in chatter, not paying me any attention. It's probably lucky that they don't see me, or they will see me lose myself as Hunter walks past in the distance, not even noticing me. Even from here he takes my breath away, and that is my problem with Dom. He is amazing, he is funny, dating wise he will be a safe bet. But he doesn't do that to me, rob me of my ability to breathe, see or hear.

  "Gin, are you there?" he asks and I realise that I have dropped the phone to my side, his distant voice calling out.

  "Sorry, yeah I am here. I just got distracted. Dom, I am sorry but my answer is the same as it was yesterday. Nope, I won't do it to you, until I know I can give you what you need from me. And today, I can't do that," I finish and realise that I am holding my breath waiting for his response.

  "I don't get it Gin, how will you know if you don’t even give me a chance? All I am asking for is one night," he retorts back, his frus
tration, hope, and resignation evident in his voice. His response has me squeezing my eyes shut, as I try to escape the reality that it is my doing.

  "Talk to you tomorrow Dom," my response is whisper soft. I hang up and hang my head in shame. I am not stringing him along but at the same time, it hurts that I did this to him. I know that he wants more than friendship from me.

  I turn back to the girls, with a big pasted smile on my face, ready to face the grilling. They surprise me though, having all our stuff packed up, walking out to meet me on the street. Lizzie gives me a reassuring smile while Betsy winks in my direction.

  Thankfully coffee is our last stop and we all pile into my car for the short drive back to St Joseph’s. It is good to get off campus today, away from the drama and just see something new. The next town over is only a thirty-minute drive away, and the mall certainly takes advantage of the young, rich crowd with the shops, cafes and stores. The discussion in the car steers clear of Dom, thankfully but we are all talking about the dance which is this weekend. I just need to get through the next week, a mountain of assignments and an increasing awkwardness between Dom and I.

  Interestingly the study sessions with Hunter are less dramatic, even less awkward, than I thought they would be. Being in the library certainly helps. He is a very good tutor and he keeps things very platonic, without his usual all encompassing domineering persona. I haven't seen this side of Hunter since we were kids.

  "You got it wrong here," he points to the middle sequence of my shitty code, using his pencil to show me where, before he places it back into his mouth, biting it while watching me through his glasses. Hunter is gorgeous. But Hunter in glasses is drop-dead-hallelujah stunning. I am pretty sure that the first time I saw him wearing them, I spluttered.

  I get lost for a few moments, watching the pencil in his mouth, and when I do catch myself staring at him, my eyes flare in alarm before jolting to his, thankfully he is watching my code, although the small smirk on his face has me second guessing myself.

  "I did exactly what we did the last time," I whine while I rub my eyes, the jumble of code is a long, detailed one.

  "No, look at it again, you are better than that Gigi," he moves the pencil again from his mouth, spinning it in his long agile fingers before dropping it and using his finger instead to point at the screen. He leans closer to do so, as do I unintentionally and within moments Hunter's scent envelopes me. He responds as I do, looking at me in surprise, and then thankfully, or not, my phone interrupts him as Dom calls again.

  "What does he keep calling for?" Hunter asks while staring at my screen as his name keeps flashing, "does he know that you are with me?"

  His words have my eyes flying back to his in confusion.

  "Well, you are. We are here studying Gigi. You are with me. Surely you are not confused by my words," his head tilts as his pretty blue eyes lock with mine. The small smile that dances over his lips is proof that he is enjoying the game he plays with me.

  I lean away from him before grabbing my ringing phone, "Hey Dom, sorry I nearly missed your call," I say, my eyes locked on Hunter.

  "What are you doing beautiful girl?" Dom asks, his happiness flowing through the phone making me drop my eyes from the beautiful blue ones holding mine.

  "Yeah, Gigi what are you doing?" Hunter growls low next to me.

  "Who is with you Gin? Sorry, I didn't know you were with someone," Dom says quickly. Always considerate.

  "My tutor for coding Dom. It’s all good. How can I help you today?" I ask. I know what is going to happen next, and shamefully I don't even try to stop it from unfolding. I don't do anything.

  "Gin, will you please be my date to the Saint’s First Party on Saturday," Dom asks again, so damn hopeful.

  Hunter's eyes are ablaze with so many emotions and I don't know which is more surprising - his anger, excitement, challenge.

  I lock my eyes with him trying to understand him, and without a doubt, he can see my conflict. But I hope that he can see my hesitation.

  "Why Gigi, that's an awesome idea," Hunter whispers as he leans in even closer to me as I speak with Dom. Hunter’s finger lightly run’s down my throat.

  My whole body locks down at his intimate touch. As always, Hunter has me spinning in one direction, away from where I wanted to be. I am not sure if I want his full attention, his approval, his jealousy or if I just want him to be my damn tutor. Obviously the last is the biggest lie, I have ever told myself.

  I am pretty sure that I nearly break my phone as I squeeze it tight between my fingers, it feels like my life is spinning out of control. In my ear I hear Dom's encouraging, waiting breath but in front of me Hunter's finger trailing over my skin is burning, demanding my attention. Something is about to collide and I am pretty sure I will be the only one to get hurt. My eyes close as I try to take stock of the tornado inside me.

  "Umm," I lose the ability to speak. "Dom," I whisper, "please..."

  "Say yes," they both say at the same time.

  My eyes widen in shock, my heart beats so loudly that it feels like it will explode out of my chest. I hold Hunter's eyes, and I still can't figure out what I see in them. His eyebrows cock up at me in an unknown question, maybe my mistake is that I took that action as his acquiesce.

  "Yes, Dom. Yes I will be your date for the Party," my words should be so full of excitement but it really feels like a little part of me loses its lightness, in just a few words.

  Hunter doesn't even wait for me to finish my call, he stands abruptly, so fast that his chair slams onto the floor, the crash echoing through the library. It hits with such force that I cower in mine. His movements are so vibrantly alive in his anger that I freeze in place. But he encouraged this, he told me to accept Dom's invitation. He is gone before I even get up off of my seat.

  I offer an apologetic smile at the librarian, pre-empting her disappointment and pick his chair up off the library floor. The sound of the library doors slamming, so far away, thunder through my ears, sending my Hunter radar spinning.

  "Agghhh!" I sound before Dom's far away voice reminds me that I still have him on an active call on my mobile, "Shit Dom, sorry. I'll call you back,"

  "What happened? Did you fall or something, I heard a crash," I hear Dom's concern but I hang up before I even finish speaking with him.

  I slump back in my chair and stare sightlessly at the screen, confusion and irritation swirling through me. Without giving it much thought I leave everything where it is and go after Hunter. I need to know what his problem is.

  I power walk like an idiot, at a barely restrained jog through the library, before standing in front of the building looking like a fool, my head whipping from side to side searching for him. Off in the distance and by sheer chance, I see Hunter, rounding the tall hedge at the edge of the campus. I take off sprinting after him, making the decision not to call for him, hoping I get the chance to surprise him. I want to catch him off guard like he always does to me. I want to see his tail spinning so I can garner if it is just me that is affected, or if I confound him.

  My legs are burning and my blazer trails after me l as I run over the landscaped paths along the campus gardens. I nearly slip over in my haste as I take a sharp corner where I last saw him go. My feet freeze instantly to the ground when I finally see him just a few steps away. He is squatted down, his hands looking like they are tugging at his hair, his eyes squeezed shut. It breaks my heart.

  "Hunter," I offer quietly, he still doesn't sense my presence. He looks up at me in total confusion then.

  My feet move slowly toward him, our eyes locked together. I can see his thoughts and emotions match the maelstrom of what is racing through my own head. And it gives me a sense of comfort.

  "Hunter, what happened in there?" my voice wobbles a little, not in fear, I don't think.

  "What happened? Are you fucking serious Gigi?" he snarls, his anger lashes out, entrapping me, tugging me closer to him.

  I am not scared of Hunter's anger. He makes me
scared, for some many more complex reasons. But I have no fear of his anger.

  "I am serious Hunter, what just happened? Explain it to me, cause I can barely figure it out myself, let alone stay up to date with the latest game you are playing, so yeah, I am serious, spell it the fuck out for me," I hiss back at him.

  "You! Gigi. You happened! I didn't sign up for this shit. You know what, fuck you. You think I am playing games. Fuck you then Gigi. You always conveniently forget everything I have ever said to you. Me, I can recite every one of your words. Word, for, fucking, word. So yeah fuck you," his words, searing in a burning anger. His body reacting just as aggressively, leaving him looming over me.

  His presence makes me flinch and my reaction seems to still him. I should have realised it is just the eye of the storm though.

  "You seriously think I would hurt you?" he barks out at me, his words drowning in the incredulous laughter that follows.

  "Are you sure you won’t right now?" I ask him, as I back up a little further away from him. Hunter though keeps stalking towards me. "You keep playing games with me. ‘I want to be yours forever Gigi’, ‘I don't want anything to do with you’. Keeping people away from me, threatening and stalking people who even look at me, being my tutor, breaking into my room. Putting a ‘think of me’ note on my fucking vibrator. You, Hunter, are fucked up! You know that right," my words are delivered with a sharp tang of my searing anger. The space between us seems to grow bigger, seems to widen until I am sure we won't ever be on the same page again.

  "Yeah, Verginius sounds about right. You are right actually, I don't want anything to do with you. You are so damn manipulative. You lie, and cheat, to get everyone to feel sorry for you. I wish I never knew you as a child. You fucking ruined my childhood! Fuck off, Gigi. I don't want to look at your fucking face anymore. I can't. I am done. Find another tutor, don't look at me, if you walk in a room and see me, leave. Don't pretend that this is a game, it is not. This is it, this is us. We are fucking DONE!" he screams at me after jumping the void between us. His words are so sharp, they hurt, and they leave me unable to move. I can't even flinch when he approaches again, so close that his final words, hurled in my face are felt and heard.